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Malaysia Armed Forces ready to join humanitarian mission in Rakhine

The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is ready to join the humanitarian mission to help the Rohingya community in Rakhine, Myanmar, if required, says its chief General Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor.

Raja Mohamed Affandi said the MAF was a well equipped organisation with extensive experience in humanitarian missions globally, and had a dedicated battalion to carry out the special tasks.

"Yesterday I was instructed by the Minister of Defence (Hishammuddin Hussein) to see what we can prepare in order to help the Rohingya people in Rakhine and those seeking shelter at the border of Bangladesh.

"We can move (with the humanitarian mission) if required, if there is need for medicine we can set up a field hospital, we have the capability," he told reporters during a press conference held in conjunction with the Malaysian Armed Forces’ anniversary on Sept 16.

Raja Mohamed Affandi said MAF had participated in humanitarian missions in Lebanon, Congo, Somalia, Namibia and Cambodia as well as organised missions in Acheh, Indonesia and the Philippines.

He said apart from that, Malaysia, which is known for its goodwill, facilitates MAF to join humanitarian and peacekeeping missions.

"Malaysians are generally good people, so it is easy for us to join any humanitarian and peacekeeping missions in turbulent countries," he said.

According to him, Malaysia's participation in several peacekeeping missions under the United Nations (UN) has been recognised by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

An MAF squad supported by iM4U volunteers is expected to head to Dhaka and Chittagong, Bangladesh, tomorrow, to conduct a humanitarian mission survey following the crisis taking place in Rakhine and the Bangladeshi border.